Catties, feet and imperial units · Usually met around P6
Catties, taels, feet, inches and pounds
1 catty = 16 taels, 1 foot = 12 inches.
How to do it
Method
1 catty = 16 taels, 1 foot = 12 inches
2 catties 4 taels = 2 × 16 + 4 = 36 taels
Another way
Change to metric first
1 catty ≈ 600 g, 1 inch = 2.54 cm
In full
Some everyday units don't go in tens: at the market, catties and taels, 1 catty = 16 taels; for heights and TV screens, feet and inches, 1 foot = 12 inches; for meat and body weight, pounds, 1 pound = 16 ounces. A big unit into small ones is a multiplication: 2 catties 4 taels = 2 × 16 + 4 = 36 taels; small units into big ones is a division, the rest staying in small units: 40 taels ÷ 16 = 2 r 8, so 2 catties 8 taels. Careful: 4 taels is not 0.4 catty but 416 = 0.25 catty. In metric units: 1 catty is about 600 g, 1 tael about 37.5 g, 1 inch = 2.54 cm, 1 foot about 30 cm, 1 pound about 454 g. Another way: change everything into grams or centimetres first, then compare or work it out.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
2 catties 2 taels = □ taels
Show the answer and working
Answer: 34
1 catty = 16 taels: 2 × 16 = 32, 32 + 2 = 34.
Example 2
1 catty is about 600 g and 1 pound about 454 g. Which is the heaviest?
- A. 1500 g
- B. 5 pounds
- C. 2 kg
- D. 4 catties
Choose the right answer
Show the answer and working
Answer: D. 4 catties
All in grams: 2400, 2000, 2270 and 1500; the heaviest is 2400 g.
Example 3
1 catty is about 600 g and 1 tael about 37.5 g. 4 catties 7 taels is about □ g
Show the answer and working
Answer: 2662.5
4 × 600 = 2400, 7 × 37.5 = 262.5, 2400 + 262.5 = 2662.5.
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